A court has ruled that a longtime eyesore in Banks Township will change hands.

Township supervisors learned Monday night that a Commonwealth Court has dismissed the appeal of a Carbon County Court decision to sell at sheriff’s sale the Leto property, a former auto garage, with junk cars around it, along Route 309 in the village of Audenried, between McAdoo and Hazleton.

John Solt, Banks Township solicitor, said the township zoning officer had first listed the property for sheriff’s sale, but then the property owner appealed to the county court, which upheld the township zoning officer’s decision. Then the property owner appealed to Commonwealth Court, which also dismissed his appeal.

The Carbon County sheriff will again list the property for sheriff’s sale “sometime in May,” Solt said.

The supervisors also approved two other measures at Solt’s direction - a resolution bringing the township into compliance with Act 57 of 2022, requiring the township tax collector to waive property tax penalties or abatements pursuant to the act.

And the supervisors approved an ordinance permitting the tax collector to collect a $20 fee for each property tax certificate if a property is sold or transferred,

Other business

Supervisors Chairman William Nice Jr. said the township has received denial letters from the Borough of McAdoo and Kline Township, as Banks Township seeks police coverage. They are awaiting answers from the Borough of Weatherly and the City of Hazleton, Nice said.

Terry Schwendamen, a member of the township zoning hearing board, said a zoning hearing into a variance for the Dollar General store to be built in the village of Coxeville will be held at 7 p.m. April 18 at the Tresckow Hosey, into a variance for a sign for the store, which has already been approved.

Supervisor Rick Porpiglia said updates to the township’s playground equipment will be made soon, including the seats, chains and other hardware for swings, so they are safe.

Porpiglia said the township-wide spring cleanup of bulk items will be scheduled sometime in June,